Take some time to visit the lovable residents of the sleepy town of South Arc

September 24, 2008

Normally a safe and quiet town, South Arc has experienced an increasing number of attacks by the monsters that have recently infested the nearby forests. Frightened to leave their homes, the villagers requested help from the King. Coincidentally, similar reports have been popping up throughout the entire kingdom, leaving the King with few solutions for South Arc. With no clear answer to their problem the citizens of South Arc go about their daily lives as best they can, until one day hope comes in the form of a young orphan…

You are that orphan, and the time has come for you to get a job – this town will support you no longer! You’re forced to explore the vast world for a calling, some sign, maybe even a hint at what you should do for a living. Well, wouldn’t you know it! You get a calling… from a shovel… literally. When you stumble upon a talking shovel you suddenly find yourself with more than you bargained for. Your new responsibility is to dig a nearby dungeon, lure the town’s monsters inside and vanquish them. Can you tolerate the overly verbose shovel, and conquer South Arc’s monster population, while convincing the mayor that a dungeon should never be used as a tourist attraction?

OWEN
A twelve-year-old boy. After graduating from school, Owen set out to find his first job, but he had a hard time finding one. Then, one day, he stumbled across a Magic Shovel. Now, like it or not, his new job is to create the town’s monster lair.

THE MAGIC SHOVEL
A talking shovel that was created long ago, specifically designed for digging dungeons. How convenient! He does his best to teach Owen the fine trade of lair-smithing.

KATE
A tough girl who, at most times, is actually pretty nice. Kate and Owen have been friends since childhood, but since she is one year older, she always feels the need to look after him.

THE TRADER
Quite possibly the most beautiful woman in town, she sells weapons and armor. However, she doesn’t always have the best items available…

THE MAYOR
The town’s leader, who is only concerned about making money.
Master of the Monster Lair is scheduled to release for Nintendo DS™ on October 21.

Versions for Nintendo DS^TM and PSP^® systems Allow You to Hit the Mountain Anytime and Anywhere

LONDON – September 25, 2008 – Today Ubisoft announces the development of Shaun White Snowboarding for the Nintendo DS™ system and PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system. The game is scheduled for release on November 13, 2008.

Developed in close collaboration with Shaun White, Olympic Gold Medalist and eight-time X Games Gold Medalist, Shaun White Snowboarding for the PSP system and DS allows players to enjoy the thrilling sport of snowboarding anytime, anywhere. Built from the ground up on both platforms, each version includes exclusive and unique features. Using intuitive controls, players can ride and compete on mountains around the world. They can also express their creativity through rides and customization and challenge their friends through wireless multiplayer.

Key features of Shaun White Snowboarding for Nintendo DS:

• Carve Your Path Through Huge Mountain Environments – Create your own runs to suit your personal riding style, and choose your path down four open mountains. Each path offers its own risks, rewards and opportunities. Big airs, dangerous carves, thrilling speed runs and huge challenges await!

• Intuitive Stylus Controls – Be in complete control of your rider using intuitive motion–based controls on the Touch Screen. Simply flick the stylus to jump, draw a circle to spin, or slide it across to control your carves. Experiment with a ton of different combinations and get into the game like never before!

• Wireless Multiplayer for Four – Get your friends together for a snowboarding session using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Up to four players can get in on the action at once – compete in races, point competitions, king of the hill and more.

• Customize Your Rider and Your Gear – You can choose a rider to suit your own personal style and complete challenges to unlock decals. These decals will not only be a way for you to customize your gear and show your accomplishments to the world, but will also help you customize your riding style by granting you new abilities. See a particularly cool sticker on a friend’s board? Trade stickers with your friends over a local wireless connection!

Key features of Shaun White Snowboarding for the PSP system:

• Huge Outdoor World – With five mountains and a variety of slopes, the player will have plenty of room to ride in this outdoor playground.

• Single and Multiplayer Modes – Embark on a solo campaign and explore the wildest mountains of the world, or select and replay specific slope challenges. Innovative multiplayer featuring co-op and competitive modes creates a richer and deeper overall experience.

• Intuitive Controls – Experience a totally intuitive controls scheme, where all tricks and actions are available right from the beginning.

• Unique Scoring System – Speed, trick, slide and carve your way to victory. Points are allotted based on these four actions rather than simply tricking – link these together to increase your skill rewards.

• Skill Development – Earn experience points and build up your rider’s attributes to serve your riding style. Use your board and rider to work in unison to conquer the mountain.

For more information on Shaun White Snowboarding, please visit www.shaunwhitegame.com.

Creative forces behind the highest rated strategy game* of all time reveal new private funding investment

VANCOUVER, CA (October 2nd, 2008) – Smoking Gun Interactive Inc. an independent premier video game studio announced today that it has recently finalized a multi-year, multi-million dollar financing agreement with private investors to expand the studio and the development of an as-of-yet undisclosed new property.

“This injection of private capital allows us to continue to control our own destiny, and deliver on our vision of taking interactive entertainment in new directions, and redefining what tomorrow’s games can be”, said John Johnson CEO and Creative Director of Smoking Gun Interactive, “We’ve expanded our core team with some exceptional talent, and with this financial expansion we’re now looking forward to welcoming new faces to our team and new partners to our business, as we become a leading force in independent games development”.

“Our plans for Smoking Gun have always been ambitious, so it’s tremendously exciting for us to get this vote of confidence from the investment community”, said Steven Lee, CFO of Smoking Gun Interactive, “This shows the kind of excitement and confidence in Smoking Gun that investors have about our plans for the studio and our products”.

Smoking Gun Interactive was formed in 2007 by former developers from Relic Entertainment. Led by CEO and Creative Director John Johnson, the management and executive team at Smoking Gun have developed multiple platinum titles with over half a billion dollars in revenue, including the critically acclaimed and award-winning RTS Company of Heroes™, that garnered over 45 industry awards and is the highest rated strategy game of all time*. Collectively, the team has over 30 years of experience and has worked on best-selling franchises including Impossible Creatures™, Homeworld™, Need for Speed™, NHL™, NBA Live™ and FIFA Soccer™.
Smoking Gun’s mission is to deliver triple A cross platform titles that push the art of gaming into new territories. The management’s collective experience in leading passionate teams and creating award winning products will position the studio into becoming a leading next-generation developer

- Keep and Care For Farmyard Animals from the Everyday to the Exotic, from Africa to Australia, all on Nintendo DS^TM -

LYON, FRANCE – 2 October 2008 – There comes a time in every sheep farmer’s life when he asks himself “why aren’t I looking after zebras or kangaroos instead?” Now those dreams of raising emus in Australia or elephants in Asia can be realized thanks to Atari’s animal care and farm management game My Farm Around The World, scheduled for release exclusively on Nintendo DS™ on 14 November 2008.

My Farm Around The World is a whole new kind of DS game which lets anybody become a virtual farmer, watching over their own personalized animals as they live and grow and building a successful livestock farming business. Choose from four different farms each with their own collections of animals: a traditional farm with pigs and ducks, an African ranch boasting lions and hippos, an Asian farm bursting with monkeys and elephants and a good old Australian ranch where crocodiles and kangaroos call the shots.

Choose your farm then start from humble beginnings: a single bird, an empty field and a few pennies. Buy food, clean, and care for your bird and watch him grow. When the eggs start coming, sell them to buy more animals which you can personalize and name as you like. Make sure you can feed them all though – if they can’t get food at home they’ll go elsewhere!

Once your livestock portfolio really starts to swell you’ll have more money to fix up the farm just how you always wanted it, with new fences, outbuildings and more. There’s bonuses along the way for good farming and clean healthy animals including other animals or special buildings such as windmills. Days pass, nights fall and the animals sleep, but you can bet they’ll wake up hungry the next day. Keep them well, and in time they’ll produce their own offspring, and hasn’t everyone always wanted their very own family of baby crocodiles or rhinos to care for?

My Farm Around The World lets players care for different animals from the four corners of the globe, breeding them, learning the simple economics of buying and selling, and growing their very own completely unique farm. And if you’ve ever wondered how an elephant would cope in a traditional European farmyard, trade animals with your friends via Wi-Fi and find out!

As announced by Deep Silver, the games label of Koch Media, a leading producer and distributor of digital entertainment products, the company keen games in Frankfurt is developing the handheld and console versions of the Secret Files brand’s second installment, “Secret Files 2 – Puritas Cordis”. The production for the two popular Nintendo platforms is already underway.

“We are very happy to join Deep Silver once again in producing the second part of Secret Files for Wii and Nintendo DS. The games will be tailored to the platforms’ specialties, with puzzles and gameplay features developed specifically to achieve the ultimate in gaming fun with Wii Remote™ and the innovative Nintendo DS Touch Screen controls,” says René Lange, Producer at keen games.

About Secret Files 2 - Puritas Cordis:

Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis… the world is on the brink of disaster. By the time Nina Kalenkow realizes that the recent catastrophes were caused not by nature, but by an unscrupulous secret society known as Puritas Cordis, it is almost too late.

While her ex-boyfriend Max, a scientist, witnesses the brutal methods of Puritas Cordis at the excavation site of an ancient Indonesian temple complex, Nina joins forces with a priest in France to investigate the connection between the secret society’s sinister prophesies and the creepy leader of an ancient order. A dramatic race against time begins.
Will the protagonists be able to avert the impending apocalypse?

FEATURES
• Official sequel to Secret Files: Tunguska, now on Nintendo DS and Wii
• Puzzles and elements of gameplay tailored to the specific features of Wii and Nintendo DS
• Spectacular graphics and cinematic cutscenes
• Four playable, sometimes cooperating characters
• Comfortable controls with a diary, puzzle help and hotspot display
• Professional voice actors (Wii)
• Two-player mode for cooperative gameplay (Wii only)

Product information:
Platform: Nintendo DS™ and Wii™
Genre: Graphic Adventure
Developer: keen games
Publisher: Deep Silver
Release: 2009

Latest in NARUTO Role-Playing Franchise Soon to Perform Shadow Clone Jutsu onto Store Shelves Everywhere

LOS ANGELES - September 23, 2008

TOMY Corporation and D3Publisher, publishers of interactive entertainment software, have announced that NARUTO: Path of the Ninja 2 for the Nintendo DS™ has gone gold and will be shipping to stores on October 14th. The sequel to the only NARUTO role-playing game available in North America, Path of the Ninja 2 gives players a chance to defend the Hidden Leaf Village as 30 of the most powerful ninja in the NARUTO universe through a completely original storyline.

“There has been a huge progression between the original RPG title on the DS and Path of the Ninja 2,” said Laura Yoshioka, director of consumer software at TOMY Corporation. “Between the expanded character list, the Wi-Fi battle system, and the new squad-building options, this is an adventure that should appeal to the inner ninja of players everywhere.”

With 30 characters to choose from, including favorites like Naruto, Sasuke, and Rock Lee, plus an all-new Squad Leader and Ninja Tag systems, there have never been more ways to create the perfect ninja squad. The improved and intuitive battle system will make it easy for even the newest fighters to get into the combat, using the Touch Screen to unleash devastating melee and jutsu attacks, while the Wi-Fi multiplayer feature will offer aspiring ninja the chance to take on challengers from around the world. Based on VIZ Media’s hit animated series, NARUTO: Path of the Ninja 2 is scheduled to ship to retail stores on October 14th, and is rated “E10+” (everyone 10 and older).

For more information on NARUTO, please visit www.naruto.com. For more information on NARUTO: Path of the Ninja 2, please visit www.Naruto.Tomy-usa.com.

Codemasters today announced the forthcoming release of the first downloadable content pack for Race Driver: GRID™, the summer’s hit game that made racing exciting again, with the reveal of the ‘8 Ball’ pack coming this autumn for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

Enhancing the award-winning Race Driver: GRID, the premium 8 Ball pack is set to feature eight thrilling new cars to race and two new online events to compete in. Each vehicle is beautifully realised and was carefully selected as a thoroughbred racing car with a unique personality to deliver a stunning race experience.

‘8 Ball’ DLC Pack Cars:

· McLaren F1 GTR – The McLaren F1 GTR wrote itself into the history books as the only GT car to ever win Le Mans and is considered one of the finest examples of automotive engineering in history.

· TVR Cerbera Speed 12 – The TVR 12 smashes past 60 MPH in just under 3 seconds. Production models were planned, but they were considered too powerful to sell to the general public.

· Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X – For over a decade the Evo has been billed as a supercar slayer – now the Evo-X in GRID lets you unleash its sledgehammer aggression in the Pro-Tuned class.

· Honda S2000 – This roadster is heavily modified for drifting and has become a cult-favourite thanks to its award winning engine.

· Nissan GT-R (S-G2008) – The production model was Top Gear’s Supercar of the Year 2007. Now one of the world’s hottest cars makes its debut in Race Driver: GRID in its fully tuned racing spec.

· VW Nardo – This powerful concept car made real from VW uses its 600BHP engine to rocket to 60MPH in 3.1 seconds.

· Pontiac Firebird Trans AM – The 1971 racing edition of this true American legend is a worthy addition to GRID’s exclusive group of muscle cars.

· Volvo C30 – Adding to Race Driver: GRID’s touring car roster comes the C30, Volvo’s agile, cutting edge hot-hatch straight from the STCC grid.

All eight cars will be available to drive in the game’s ‘Race Day’ mode and online races. In addition to the cars, the pack will make two new multiplayer events available, set on existing circuits from across Race Driver: GRID’s three continents and to test drivers to their very limit online. On Xbox 360, the pack will also feature four new Achievements worth a total of 100 points to earn from four new competitive challenges:

· Jack Of All Trades – Win an online race in each of the 8 Ball pack cars – 25pts.
· Drift Master - Achieve a 99x combo in the Honda S2000 – 25pts.
· Gas Guzzler - Clock up over 250 miles in your favourite 8 Ball pack car– 25pts.
· Clean Passing - Win a clean race in an 8 Ball Pack car from last position – 25pts.

With pricing for the pack to be confirmed at launch, the ‘8 Ball’ content will be available from PlayStation®Network for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®. Details for downloadable content for the Games for Windows® edition of Race Driver: GRID will be announced shortly.

Further content is expected to be released for the game, including a V8 Supercars featuring Ford and Holden cars and the Bathurst circuit, later this year. Each downloadable pack will require players to have a full copy of Race Driver: GRID on the appropriate format in order to experience the additional content. For all the latest information and videos, be sure to visit www.racedrivergrid.com

Learn more about random events and occurrences in the upcoming party RPG!

September 18, 2008 - In Dokapon Kingdom, the upcoming party RPG for Wii™ and PlayStation®2, players will find a bevy of unanticipated twists on their way to raking in the most gold, capturing the most towns, saving the kingdom, and winning the hand of the princess in holy matrimony. Below is a description of some of those sudden and at times undesirable events, along with some accompanying visuals, just to really hammer it home:

Like many traditional board games, players in Dokapon Kingdom take turns with a spinner to determine how many spaces they will be able to move. There are a wide variety of different spaces to land on, such as item/spell roulette wheels, bank spaces that allow for investment and tax collection from possessed towns, weapon/item/magic shops, and in addition to a large list of other spaces, there also happen to be the plain, bland yellow spaces.

In most games, these empty spaces are merely filler for the experience. In Dokapon Kingdom, very often they are the heart of the matter. Yellow spaces are where most player-versus-player engagements will occur, and the areas in which players will be doing work to strengthen and improve their characters. They’re also the only spaces in the entire grand world of Dokapon where random events can occur.

There are far too many different types to describe, but needless to say these events can often bring fortune for the player or just as easily bring disaster:

• Weber the Trickster likes to mess with contestants, usually tricks he finds fun but you likely won’t.
•Risque the Bandit offers players a chance to steal something from an opponent, but very often his fingers are not quite fast enough to get the job done (although he’ll have a firm grip on your payment).
• Robo-agent will offer players with the chance to “take out” one of their foes (and we’re not talking about eating out). Upon payment, he’ll transform into Robo-Sassin, and from that point it will be nail-biting suspense for your enemy as they hope to avoid encountering the obscenely overpowered automaton. Of course, very often Robo-Sassin is willing to consider taking double his original payment from his intended target, which will turn him back on his original client…
• The Beggar will ask you for money, simple as that. Pay him or don’t, there may be consequences either way…
• Kira the Merchant offers exceptional wares at hard to beat prices, but very often players will encounter her with empty pockets, which can only frustrate as she takes her rare wares elsewhere.

At the start of each week (and weeks are comprised of 7 rounds, in which each player has to have one turn), there is the possibility of random global events, which vary in scope and often can completely change the focus of the game:

• The Coliseum, for example, may pull all players to its great arena for a little bit of player-versus-player action, all for the enjoyment of its rather hedonistic owner.
• A “Wabbit Explosion” indicates to all contestants that there will be an inordinate number of Wabbits on the loose, something to consider when landing on an empty yellow space…
• The “Hairstyle contest” allows players who’ve taken the time to collect and use rare or fancy hairstyles to put their glam to the test. Who will be voted the fairest of all?
• The “Epidemic” will hit you where it hurts the most: your wallet! Your citizens are ill and need your help… Expect to pay a sizeable amount in aid based on the number and size of the towns you own.
• The “Abnormous Disaster” can really set folks back, knocking all of the towns on a single, random continent down a level and robbing them of all of their currently accumulated taxes. All those investments you poured lovingly into your little hamlets? Oh my, misplaced, so sorry!

These are really just a taste of the types of completely unforeseeable bonuses, disasters, and curious events that can spice up a game of Dokapon Kingdom. Be sure to check out the screens below to see some of what’s been described above! Dokapon Kingdom is scheduled for release on October 14!

For more information on Dokapon Kingdom, please visit the official website.